This document provides information about different levels of government in the UK. It discusses devolution and the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Specifically, it describes: - The Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, which deals with devolved matters like education and health. It can pass laws without authorization from the UK Parliament. - The Welsh Assembly in Cardiff, which has around 60 elected members and a leader (First Minister) elected by the Assembly. - The Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast, which has around 108 elected members and a First Minister elected by the Assembly. - Tables in the course book provide more details on devolution and the advantages/disadvantages of devolved power

2. Unit 1
Government, policies and the public services
View this in slide show now.

3. • The aim of this session is to enable you to
understand the different levels of
government in the UK.
• The objective is that upon completion of
this session you will have studied:
– Devolution of power:
• Devolved Parliaments
• Full details can be found on page 6, table
1.2 of the course book.

4. Devolution
• Power is devolved to
national parliaments or
assemblies:
– The Scottish Parliament at
Edinburgh
– The Welsh Assembly in
Cardiff
– The Northern Ireland
Assembly in Belfast
• With London these are
the capitals of the
countries that make up
Great Britain.
CENTRAL - Westminster
Monarchy
House of Commons
House of Lords
Branches of government
REGIONAL
Devolved parliaments
Devolution

5. Devolution - The Scottish Parliament
• Established by the
Scotland Act 1998
through referendum.
• Deals with devolved
matters:
– Education
– Health
– Civil and criminal law
– Environment
– Housing
– Local government

6. Devolution - The Scottish Parliament
• Self contained – it can pass laws without
authorisation from the UK Parliament.
• UK Parliament has reserved power:
– It still has jurisdiction on matters that affect the UK as
a whole or an international impact.
• Around 130 elected members of the Scottish
Parliament.
• The most representatives form the government
called the Scottish Executive.
• MSPs vote on issues that effect the UK but not
the other way round.

7. Devolution - The Scottish Parliament
• Follow this link for more information on the
Scottish Parliament:
• http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/home.ht
m
• And page 6, table 1.2 of the course book.
• Click this link for a virtual tour of the
Scottish Parliament:
• http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentr
e/images/360_tour/chamber.htm

8. Devolution – The Welsh Assembly
• Established by the
Government of Wales Act
1998 through
referendum.
• Has around 60 elected
Assembly members.
• The leader (First Minister)
is elected by the
Assembly.
• Unlike Scotland, Wales is
subject to English law.

9. Devolution – The Welsh Assembly
• For a more information on the Welsh
Assembly click here:
• http://new.wales.gov.uk/?lang=en
• Follow this link for a virtual tour of the
Welsh Assembly:
• http://www.thinkinteractive.co.uk/Java/wag
_chamber.html
• Also see page 6, table 1.2 of the course
book.

10. Devolution – The Northern Ireland Assembly
• Created by the
Northern Ireland Act
1998 by
referendum.
• Around 108 elected
members.
• Its First Minister is
elected by the
Assembly.

11. Devolution – The Northern Ireland Assembly
• Follow this link to find out more
information about the Northern Ireland
Assembly:
• http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/
• Click this link to have a virtual tour around
the Northern Ireland Assemble in
Stormont, Belfast.
• http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/vtour/vtour_index.
htm
• Also see page 6, table 1.2 of the course book.

12. Devolution
• The advantages and disadvantages of
devolution are shown on page 5, table 1.1
of the course book. You can use this
information for D1.
• Locate it now.

13. The current UK flag

14. Summary
• In this session we have investigated:
– Devolution and decentralisation of power.
– The Scottish Parliament
– The Welsh Assembly
– The Northern Ireland Assembly

15. Task
• Lets look at how we can use this
information to help us complete our
assignment.

16. Look forward
• Our next session will focus on:
• The European Union.